Potato Starch
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 11, 2023.
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is it?
Starches are typically derived from corn or potato. Starches are used in the pharmaceutical industry for a wide variety of reasons, such as an excipient, a tablet and capsule diluent, a tablet and capsule disintegrant, a glidant, or as binder. Disintegrants enable tablets and capsules to break down into smaller fragments (dissolve) so that the drug can be released for absorption.[1] Starches also absorb water rapidly, allowing tablets to disintegrate appropriately.
Starches are also used in the food manufacturing industry for processing, and as food thickeners or stabilizers. There are many other diverse uses for starches in the manufacturing industry. Pregelatinized starch derives primarily from corn, has been cooked and then dried. Instant puddings, pie fillings, soup mixes, salad dressings, candy often contain pregelatinized starch.[2]
Pregelatinized starches (dried, cooked starches) are highly digestible. Consumption of excessive quantities of raw starch has resulted in obesity and iron-deficiency anemia in human subjects. However, there is no evidence to suspect a hazard to the public when starches are used at levels that are now current or that might reasonably be expected in the future; indeed they are consumed daily in most diets.[3]
List of medications using Potato Starch
- Amantadine Hydrochloride 100 mg
- Amlodipine Besylate and Olmesartan Medoxomil 5 mg / 40 mg
- Baclofen 10 mg
- Baclofen 20 mg
- Cyred EQ desogestrel 0.15 mg / ethinyl estradiol 0.03 mg
- DDAVP 0.2 mg
- Desmopressin Acetate 0.2 mg
- Desmopressin Acetate 0.1 mg
- Desmopressin Acetate 0.1 mg
- Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol desogestrel 0.15 mg / ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg
- Fluvoxamine Maleate 100 mg
- Fluvoxamine Maleate 50 mg
- Fluvoxamine Maleate 25 mg
- Lotensin 40 mg
- Mercaptopurine 50 mg
- Plan B One Step levonorgestrel 1.5 mg
- Prednisone 20 mg
- Prednisone 10 mg
- Prednisone 5 mg
- Zyloprim 300 mg
References
- Dave RH. Overview of pharmaceutical excipients used in tablets and capsules. Drug Topics (online). Advanstar. 10/24/2008 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Top+News/Overview-of-pharmaceutical-excipients-used-in-tabl/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/561047. Accessed 08/19/2011
- David A Bender. Starch, Pregelatinized. A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved March 19, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-starchpregelatinized.html
- FDA’s SCOGS database; Wheat Starch; SCOGS-Report Number: 115; http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListing&id=365 Accessed March 19, 2012.
Further information
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